Couch-bed.



C. H. YOUNG.

COUCH BED.

APPLlcAnoN FILED JuLY 27.1912.

LMLW?. Patented Nov. 27, 1917.

56m@ Q. @MMM/@n www.

CLARENCE H. YOUNG, OF DORCI-IESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

COUCH-BEID.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2'?, 121'?.

Continuation of application Serial No. 671,198, led January 15, 1912.This application led July 27, 1912. Serial No. 711,768.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CLARENCE H. Yonne, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Dorchester, in the county of Suffolk and Y Y forsoshifting one of the sections.

`The character of the invention may be best understood by referencetothe following description of an` illustrative` embodiment thereofshown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view ofa por tion of an illustrative extensionbed embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of one end ofthe bed showing the sections in superposedrelation;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing Aone of the sections in theprocess of being shifted;

Fig. 4 is a View of the opposite end of the bed to that shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail to be referred to; and Fig. 6 is a` section taken online 6 6 of Fig. 5. y

Referring to the drawing, the illustrative extension bed therein shownas embodying the invention comprises a stationary section A and ashiftable section B.

The stationary section has end frames, each comprising herein an archedtube 1, to which are secured' an upper horizontal, angle cross bar3 anda lower,horizontal, angle cross bar 5. The end frames may be connectedby long stay tubes 7, 7 and a spring mattress 9 stretched between saidangle bars 8, 3.

The shiftable section B has end frames, each comprising a tube 11 formedto` provide at one end thereof a leg 13. These legs may be connected bya long stay tube 15. Secured to the end frames are horizontal, crossbars 17 and angle cross bars 17a. Between the latter is stretched amattress 19.

To permit the shiftable section B to be adjusted relatively to thestationary section A it may be pivotally connected thereto by parallellinks 21 and 23. To contribute to the rigidity of the structure thelinks 21 at the opposite ends of the bed may be connected intermediatetheir ends by a spreader tube or bar 25 and at their lower ends by atube or bar 27 fulcrumed in apertures in the lower horizontal angle barsof the stationary section. y

By the above described arrangement of parallel links the section B whenshifted will be lifted bodily and rocked to its retracted or extendedpositions. To effect this shifting movement it is necessary first tolift the section until the links have reached substantially verticalpositions (Fig. 3). A slight further movement of the section will causethe links to rock past their dead centers and then gravity will completethe shifting movement.

I will now describe a simple and effective device for shifting thesection B relatively to the section A. This device comprises anactuating member conveniently in the form of a lever 29 convenientlypivoted to the lower angle bar 5 at one end of the stationary sectionand provided with a treadle 31 enabling it to be readily operated by thefoot. To connect this actuating lever with the movable section a chain33 or other flexible connection is provided having one end connected tosaid actuating lever, preferably at a point intermediate its ends, andhaving its opposite end connected to an ear of a collar 35 on thespreader bar 25 referred to. This chain is passed over a pulley 87(Figs. 5V and G) in a shell 37u conveniently secured to the upperhorizontal angle bar 3 and at a point above the point of attachment ofthe chain to the spreader bar.

The section B in moving to its extended position (Fig. l) rocks slightlyfarther' from the lower pivot point of the link 2l than When moving toits superposed position (Fig. 2). In order that the actuating lever maybe Amoved equally in shifting the section B to `both .positions -as morefully hereinafter described, the pulley 37 is not placed directly abovesaid .pivot point, but is offset somewhat therefrom.

The points of connection of the cha-in with the treadle lever andspreader tube are il'soinevvhat offset onopposite sidesofthe planevsection opposite tothe one provided With "the shifting devicedescribed, maybe provided with a helical spring 39 (Fig. l)

having one end connected 'to 'the spreader bar referred to and Vitsopposite end strich (Fig. 1)

l,formed to lprovide "a hook 40 which may be "inserted throu'ghholes inthe end vframe Atube or be othe'ri'vi'se secured thereto. -Preferably`the upper end of this spring is con- 'nected t'o said 'tube at a pointsomewhat offset from a vertical line passing "through the lov've'r pivotpoint 'of the link '21 as inthe case of "thepu'lleyat the oppositeend.This springhas 'not sufficient strength to initiate VVa "shiftingmovement of 'the section B, 'but `materially assists the movement after`once finitia'ted.

`It may be lsi'i'pposed that it is desired rto adjust the section from"its extended pofto its 'position for a single bed (Fig. To this end thetreadltel is pressed by the foot, thereby pulling 'the chain 33,roek'ing the links 21 and lifting `the,section'B''ui'it'il said linkspass vertical positions (Fig. 3). In the course of this movement thatportion of the lchain extending 'between vthe pulley and `-spreader bar'will 'swing about said pulleyas a fulcrum until the links pass beyondtheir dead 'centers or vertical positions y'when the chain Will 'be"swung further and dragged in an 'opposite direction, causing thetreadle to 'reverse be lifted back to its original pesit'i'on. The Afootis retained on the treadle during 'this reverse movement and pressed tocheck the final shifting movement of 'the ally released to catch orcheck the momentum. Thus the treadle is successively depressed andelevated or moved in opposite directions for effecting a shift of thesection B in one direction, and said treadle is operated in the same Wayto shift-said section in both directions. Y

To extend the section B the treadle is 'pressed and checked as before,causing a similar shifting operation to occur With this difference; thatthe portion of the flexitended and superposed positions, iand "after thetreadle has been pressed toin'it'iate a shift y'movement the spring thustten'sioned assists Y'in shifting and checking Vthe mvement, decreases"the Work involved i'n shifting the treadle, and tends to 'equalizetheVLmovement of both ends-ofthe section wvithout vtwist or 'distortionthereof.

The treadle extends `to la position the side :of the bed Where iit isLconverrienft'l'y accessible and readily op'eratedan'd may alwaysreturnV to the same posi-tion lirrespective Aof the 'direction )which'the -slrift -section is moved.

While in the illustrative "embodiment of the inafention 4'shown hereinparallel V"links:

are provided at each end` of -the bed for Lcon- 'necting 'the movableand stationary sections, in 'some `'instances lthe links 123 Lmay beomitted. ln such casethe movable section will not be lifted bodily-buttvill dragon the :casters of the Eleg 113. Hfevvever, I prefer theparallel 1motionsincelby litthe drag is eliminated and infjury 'to:floors and 'carpets is thereby prevented. e

The shiftin'gdevijce described iis extlremely simple in construction andoperation. -By it there is no liability 'offdisplaicing or rocking the"stationary section oif *of its feet in the course of the shiftingmovement, `since the 'pulley poirit of application of the -iehain Visrelatively near theflo'o'r iand substantially midvay betavee'n the"si-des of fthe :stationary section, and the pressure nfthe trea'lle Aisdirected d'vvnavard and tends to hold the stationary section vfast onthe flo-or;

l-n using the device l'it is Yfound that a 'very nice control isprovided since the EI'novable 'section is both readily started fromtitts Tpcs'i- -tions of rest yand is gradually l"checked @it approachesthe completion "of its fshfi-'fting movements. n

p llt will be understood thatvaricus"modi- -icaftions may be made in thel'con'struetion described without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

Having described one embodiment of the invention without limiting thesame thereto, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

l. In an extension bed, the combination of a plurality of sections andmeans including a foot operated member, the latter having provision forimparting an operator controlled lifting shift to one of the sectionsand checking at the will of the operator a falling shift of saidsection.

2. In an extension bed, the combination of a plurality of sections, andmeans including a lever and a flexible power transmitting connectionbetween Vsaid lever and one section for transmitting the power of theoperator, iirst to impart a shifting momentum to said section and thento check said momentum to check said section.

3. In an extension bed, the combination of a plurality of sections, oneshiftable relatively to the other, spring means tending to move andcheck the section in a shifting movement on receiving unidirectionaldownward pressure from the operator, and a member cooperating therewithboth for initiating and checking said movement.

t. ln an extension bed, the combination of a plurality of sections, alink at one end of the bed and a link at the opposite end of said bed`tor pivotally connecting said sections, a member connecting said links,a spring connecting said member with one of said sections, a leverpivoted to an end of the bed, and a ieXible connection extending fromsaid lever to said member for initiating and checking a shiftingmovement of the pivoted section.

5. In an extension bed, the combination of a plurality of sections, alink pivotally connected to said sections, an operating member, a guideon one of said sections, and flexible means connected to said link oversaid guide to said operatinof member for extending or contracting thebed.

6. An extension bed comprising, in combination, a movable section, astationary section, said movable section being adapted to be movedrelatively to the stationary section to an extended position and also tobe retracted to a position immediately over the stationary section, alever pivotally supported at one end to swing through a limited arc, anda connection between said lever and movable section whereby a swing ofsaid lever in one direction initiates the extension of the movablesection, and a substantially equal swing of 'said lever in the samedirection as before initiates the retraction of the movable section.

7 An extension bed comprising, in combination, a movable section, astationary section, the movable section being adapted to be moved to anextended position and also to be retracted to a position immediatelyover the stationary section, a treadle adapted to be given a limited upand down movement, and connection between said treadle and movablesection whereby a downward movement of said treadle eX- tendssaidmovable section, and a substantially equal downward movement of saidtreadle retracts the movable section.

8. An extension bed comprising, in combination, a movable section, astationary section, swinging means uniting said sections, a leverpivotally supported at one end, and a flexible connection between saidlever and swinging means adapted to shift the movable section to botheXtreme positions by like movements of said lever.

9. An extension bed comprising, in combination, a movable section, astationary section, a lever pivotally supported at one end to thestationary section, a iieXible connection attached tc said lever andconnected with said movable section, and a pulley supported by thestationary section and sustaining said flexible connection, said partsbeing adapted to shilft the movable section to both extremes of positionby like movements of said lever.

10. In an extension bed, the combination of a plurality of sections, onefor extension or retraction movement relative to the other; and a leveroperatively connected to both of said sections and movable by downwardpressure to initiate either extension or retraction movement andsubsequently movable in an upward direction by the operation of gravityon the moving section while the gravity actuated movement of the movingsection is checked by a continuance oi' the downward pressure.

ll. In an extension bed, the combination of a plurality of sections, onefor extension or retraction movement relative to the other; parallellinks at each end of the bed and connecting said sections; and a leveroperatively connected to said sections and movable by pressure in agiven direction to initiate either extension or retraction movement andsubsequently movable in a reverse direction by the operation of gravityon the moving section while the gravity ac tuated movement of the movingsection is checked by a continuance of the pressure in said givendirection.

Vl2. In an extension bed, the combination of a plurality of sections,one for extension or retraction movement relative to the other; and afoot lever operatively connected to both of said 'sections and movableby downward pressure to initiate either eX- tension or retractionmovement and subsequently movable in an upward direction by MIJ@ theoperation of gravity on the moving era'ble to extendv s-idvsection endsimilarly 10 Section While the gravity actuated moveoperable to retractseid Section.

ment of the moving section is checked by ln testimonywhereof,lhavesignedmy :L lcontinuance of the downward pressure. nume to this specification,in the presence of 5 13. ln an extension bed, the combination twoSubscribing. Witnesses. u

of a plurality of sections, one shiftable rela- CLARENCE H. YOUNG.

tively to the other for extension and confit-messes: traction of thebed; and means for So shift- JOHN .R...MoULToN,. ing said sectionlincluding a, member op- -HENRY-T. WILLIAMS.'

copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents eachgfbyaddre'ssingfth-e Cmmissioner of Patents,`

Washington, ILC.

